Coming: Transit hubs at all Metro stations

Soon, getting a public transport from Metro stations to your destination will be more convenient.

Soon, getting a public transport from Metro stations to your destination will be more convenient.

The Unified Traffic and Transportation (planning and engineering) Centre (UTTIPEC), the technical body that approves all road and transport projects, has made it mandatory to create an integrated multi-modal transit hub at all Metro stations.

While the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation will have to plan and execute the transit hub at each station under its Phase 3 expansion plan along with land-owning agencies, UTTIPEC has asked the agencies concerned to make necessary integration through retrofitting at existing stations. The decision was taken at a governing body meet of the UTTIPEC on February 27.

While the inside of Metro stations is well-planned, with signage and other facilities, officials said the area outside many stations was haphazard with no feeder transport facility such as bus, autorickshaw or cycle-rickshaw to ferry commuters.

“The UTTIPEC has chalked out a multi-modal transit and connectivity checklist, but it has to be properly followed. The last mile connectivity for Metro commuters has to be made more user-friendly. We are taking Chhatarpur station as a pilot project. The concept proposal will be discussed in the working group meeting soon,” said Ashok Bhattacharjee, director (planning) and member secretary, UTTIPEC.

UTTIPEC officials said creating integrated multi-modal transport hub would help public transport, para-transit and non-motorised transport modes work together in making commuting easier and sustainable for people.

Officials said crucial space was left unutilised at most Metro stations, while people took risk in crossing streets to board a public transport. Through retrofitting, officials said, they aimed to reorganise the space and make it friendly for pedestrians and Metro commuters.

“The agencies will have to come together and prepare a plan, which will be approved by the UTTIPEC. Once the plan is approved, the agencies will have to complete it within a given timeframe,” said Bhattacharjee.